The short version
- Start on a pair of combo skis sized to your weight. For adults over about 120 lb, that usually means 67"–69" skis.
- The two-ski deep-water start: knees to chest, ski tips up and shoulder-width apart, rope between the skis, arms straight, and let the boat pull you up.
- WSIA suggests about 20–24 mph for combo skiing and a 75 ft rope. Kids and light adults need less speed.
- Move to slalom by dropping a ski while riding, then learning the one-ski deep-water start. Size the slalom ski by weight and the speed you'll ski at.
- Use an observer, agreed hand signals and a non-inflatable USCG-approved life jacket every time.
Water skiing is the original tow sport and still one of the most satisfying. There's nothing quite like the moment a slalom ski bites into a turn and throws a wall of spray. Getting there is a clear progression: two skis, then dropping a ski, then starting on one. Each step has a few technique keys and some numbers worth knowing. Here is the whole path, from a family's first combo pair to a confident slalom start.
Combo, trainer and slalom skis explained
| Type | What it is | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer skis | Short, wide pair often tied together at the tips, sometimes with a handle bar | Young kids taking their first rides |
| Combo skis | Matched pair. One ski usually has a rear toe plate so it can be used alone | Beginners and families. Also the ski you drop from later |
| Shaped skis | Wider, shorter combo-style skis with more sidecut | Easier turning and starts for recreational skiers |
| Slalom ski | One narrow ski with front and rear bindings | Skiers who can drop a ski or start on one |
Combo skis are wide enough to float you and stable enough that each foot gets its own platform. Their main job is to teach you to let the boat pull you up and to stand balanced over your feet. The sport is built on those two skills.
Sizing: combo and slalom charts
Ski length is driven mainly by skier weight. For slalom it also depends on boat speed: faster speeds call for shorter skis, and slower speeds for longer, wider skis. If several people share a set, size it for the heaviest regular skier. Combo sizing, from Overton's buying guide:
| Skier weight | Combo ski length |
|---|---|
| Up to 80 lb | About 46" (kids' and trainer sizes) |
| 90–120 lb | 59"–64" |
| 120 lb and up | 67"–69" |
Slalom sizing, from O'Brien's chart as published by West Marine (lengths in inches):
| Skier weight | 26–30 mph | 30–34 mph | 34–36 mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 lb | 61–64 | 61–64 | 61–64 |
| 105–120 lb | 61–66 | 61–64 | 61–64 |
| 115–140 lb | 61–66 | 61–66 | 63–66 |
| 135–160 lb | 64–69 | 63–66 | 63–66 |
| 155–180 lb | 66–72 | 66–69 | 66–69 |
| 175–200 lb | 68–75 | 68–72 | 66–70 |
| 200+ lb | 70–75 | 68–75 | 68–72 |
New slalom skiers usually ski at the slower end, so they should use the longer end of the first column. A longer, wider ski makes the deep-water start far easier.
Bindings should be snug enough that your heel doesn't lift, but they must let your foot come out in a hard fall. Wet your feet and the rubber before sliding in. Check bindings, fins and ropes at the start of every season and before every outing.
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Boat setup: speed and rope length
| Skiing | WSIA suggested speed | Rope |
|---|---|---|
| Combo or shaped skis | About 20–24 mph (less for kids and light adults) | 75 ft to start |
| Recreational slalom | Mid-20s mph and up, by weight and skill | 75 ft, shortened as ability grows |
| Advanced slalom | Up to about 36 mph | Shortened lines |
Use a water ski rope, which has a little stretch and a narrower handle. Don't use a tube rope. When towing more than one skier, all ropes must be the same length. Drive a straight line, follow the same path back and forth on smooth water, and accelerate firmly but smoothly when the skier calls "hit it."
The two-ski deep-water start
- Get into position. Float on your back in your life jacket and pull your knees to your chest, like sitting in a chair tipped backward.
- Tips up. Ski tips stick up out of the water about shoulder-width apart, pointed at the boat.
- Rope between the skis. Hold the handle with both hands, arms straight and outside your knees. The rope runs between your ski tips. This keeps the skis parallel as the boat pulls.
- Call "hit it" once the rope is tight. As the boat pulls, stay compact: knees bent, arms straight, weight on your heels. Don't lean back or pull with your arms. Let the boat lift you onto the surface.
- Rise slowly. Once the skis are planing, gradually straighten your legs to a relaxed, athletic stance: knees slightly bent, hips over feet, back straight, handle low near your waist, eyes on the horizon.
If the skis keep splitting apart, the tips are too far apart or the rope isn't centered between them. If you go over the front, you stood up too early or let your arms bend. Stay in the "ball" longer. If you fall backward, you leaned back. Keep your weight over your feet.
Riding, turning and crossing the wake
- Stay balanced: Weight evenly on both feet, slightly toward the balls of your feet, knees soft. The handle stays low and close. If your arms are pulling, your body position is off.
- Steer with your feet: Gently press on the ski on the side you want to go away from. Press the right ski to drift left, and the left to drift right. Lean slightly in the direction of travel.
- Cross the wake: Approach at a modest angle with knees flexed to absorb the bump, and keep the skis close together. Don't jump it on combo skis.
- Finish: Let go of the handle and sink down. Then hold a ski up out of the water or clasp your hands over your head so the boat and other traffic can see you.
Moving to slalom
Dropping a ski
Once you can ski comfortably on two, the easiest route to slalom is dropping a ski while riding. Figure out which foot you want forward. The ski with the rear toe plate stays on, and it goes on your front foot.
- Ride inside the wakes at your usual combo speed, perhaps a touch faster.
- Shift your weight onto the ski you're keeping. Slowly lift the other heel and let that ski slide off. The driver and observer should know it's coming, so tell them beforehand.
- Drag the free foot in the water for balance, then slide it into the rear toe plate behind your front foot.
- Bend your knees and settle your weight. Most of it goes on the front foot at first.
Practice dropping in an open area, and make sure the observer marks where the loose ski lands so you can retrieve it. A loose ski is a hazard for other boats.
The one-ski deep-water start
- Put both feet in the bindings (or the front foot in, with the back foot ready to drag or help), and crouch with the ski underneath you and your legs very bent.
- Point the ski tip up out of the water toward the boat, with the rope running along one side of it.
- Keep your arms straight and knees bent. As the boat pulls, the ski centers on the rope. Let the boat pull you up rather than pushing or leaning back.
- Stay low until the ski planes, then rise slowly into your stance.
Expect a few tries. A longer slalom ski and a driver who accelerates steadily to the right speed make a big difference.
Safety essentials for water skiers
Every skier needs a properly fitted, USCG-approved life jacket designed for water skiing. Inflatables aren't approved for towed sports, and ski belts aren't approved either. Let go of the handle when you fall, and never wrap the rope around any part of your body.
- Observer: An observer watches the skier while the driver watches ahead. Maryland and California, for example, require an observer at least 12 years old.
- Hand signals: Thumb up means faster, thumb down slower, OK sign means speed is good, a slash across the throat means stop, a pat on the head means back to the dock, and hands clasped overhead after a fall mean I'm OK. Our tow sports safety guide covers the full set.
- Space: Ski in open water clear of swimmers, docks and shallows. WSIA recommends a 200 ft buffer around the boat. Maryland requires the towing boat to stay at least 100 ft from shore, piers, swimmers and other vessels.
- Rope rules: Maryland, for example, caps ski ropes at 75 ft (100 ft for barefoot). Check your state's rules.
- Pickup: Circle back slowly, keep the skier on the driver's side, and turn the engine off when the skier is near the boat or climbing in.
- Daylight only, sober only: Skiing between sunset and sunrise is banned in many states, and alcohol slows reactions for drivers and skiers alike.
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FAQ
How fast should you pull a beginner on water skis?
WSIA suggests about 20–24 mph for combo skis. Kids and light adults need less, so start slower and adjust with the thumb-up and thumb-down signals.
Is water skiing easier than wakeboarding?
The two-ski start is often easier for adults because you face the boat and each foot has its own ski. Wakeboarding's start requires rotating the board sideways. Many people find getting up on skis a good stepping stone.
What length rope should I use for water skiing?
Start with 75 ft. Recreational slalom skiers often shorten the line as they improve. Check your state's rules too. Maryland, for example, caps ski ropes at 75 ft.
Which foot goes forward on a slalom ski?
Try it both ways. Most people put their dominant foot in front, the same foot they'd lead with on a skateboard or snowboard. Some people find it's the opposite on the water.